diff --git a/lib/puppet/provider/package/yum.rb b/lib/puppet/provider/package/yum.rb
index bdae62a993..ac9c126d7a 100644
--- a/lib/puppet/provider/package/yum.rb
+++ b/lib/puppet/provider/package/yum.rb
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ def update
   end
 
   def purge
-    execute([command(:cmd), "-y", :erase, @resource[:name]])
+    execute([command(:cmd), "-y", :remove, @resource[:name]])
   end
 
   private
diff --git a/spec/shared_examples/rhel_package_provider.rb b/spec/shared_examples/rhel_package_provider.rb
index 06aa9ef1c9..fa29130bce 100644
--- a/spec/shared_examples/rhel_package_provider.rb
+++ b/spec/shared_examples/rhel_package_provider.rb
@@ -189,8 +189,8 @@
     end
 
     describe 'when uninstalling' do
-      it 'should use erase to purge' do
-        expect(Puppet::Util::Execution).to receive(:execute).with(["/usr/bin/#{provider_name}", '-y', :erase, name])
+      it 'should use remove to purge' do
+        expect(Puppet::Util::Execution).to receive(:execute).with(["/usr/bin/#{provider_name}", '-y', :remove, name])
         provider.purge
       end
     end